I always dreamed of meeting Mr. Armani.
I had seen him once or twice backstage and always really appreciated how kind he seemed. For me, Giorgio Armani represents the crazy, modern elegance of Italians. He’s also immensely talented – a man who has revolutionized fashion, blurring all the lines between masculine and feminine, and he continues to work every single day with intense passion and discipline.
My admiration for him as a person is also tied to my great respect for him as a visionary. Armani didn’t stop with clothing. Very early, long before the word “lifestyle” was on everyone’s lips, he had a desire to make his vision extend beyond clothing. I am lucky to be able to write to you from his hotel in Milan (I’ll tell you more about the hotel in an upcoming post) and it’s crazy to see how far they’ve taken the attention to detail.
So I am writing you from Milan, where I’ve come to dive into the world of Armani for a day.
The show was this morning. And with Armani, everything is different.
First of all, in Milan, the most established fashion houses present their shows in their own spaces. They’ve all got an area set aside for shows. At the “Teatro” Armani, there’s no standing – you get deep, comfortable seats. There’s no hysteria. They know what they’re doing when it comes to relaxation. Backstage, Mr. Armani is keeping busy. Like many creative geniuses, he’s reduced his style to a bare minimum. Most of the time, he wears a black t-shirt which contrasts with his white hair. He keeps busy, speaks in Italian. Around him, he’s got a team who adores him and who’s been following him forever. Everyone whispers to me: Mr. Armani, he’s a total sweetheart.
At the makeup counters, there’s another thing that’s a bit unusual: the color palettes for the next collection are created right then and there to match the collection of the day. I’ve talked to you about Armani makeup before – it’s amazing all the way down to the packaging – and that’s one of the secrets. The blends are created right there at the counter, and that’s what all the colored vials are for.
Then the show begins, and once again, it’s unique. There are no star models, no Insta-pits, no blaring music. Everything is done to give attention to the clothes. At my first Armani shows, I didn’t really get it. Why doesn’t this powerful fashion house pay for the latest fashion girl? And then I understood that it was to leave room for the clothes. There’s a kind of self confidence that emanates from everything. You are transported into a certain world, an aesthetic.
The end of the show, when Mr. Armani comes out, is always my favorite moment. I don’t know why, but to me it’s like seeing Coco Chanel or Hubert de Givenchy. A true legend. After that, someone came to get me, and it was my turn.
One thing I love about Giorgio Armani is listening to him speak. He has incredible honesty and candor, and in fashion, that’s so refreshing. And most of all, he’s brilliant. One day I’ll do a podcast with him: now that we’re friends, I’m sure he’ll say yes! ;)
We said hi to each other, sat down in our chairs backstage, and he was very clear with Erik and me form the beginning: this is my favorite side, take photos head on, I like them to be taken in front of a black background… He’s perfectly clear with himself and how he wants to be seen. That’s the kind of thing I should take notes on! Once we were comfortable, he looked at me with his light blue eyes, and he smiled.
And there it was!!! That sweetness I’d always liked about him, his humility and incredible elegance, which I talk about in my book, the elegance of the greatest – the ones who have nothing to prove and treat everyone with the same warmth and respect. We started speaking in French. Yes, because on top of it all, he speaks impeccable French.
INTERVIEW.
So there you go. I left feeling like I had wings, fully aware of the amazing opportunity I’d been given. Obviously, like always, I forgot to take a selfie with him. Next time, Mr. Armani!
